Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-07

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first surprise of admiration her fathers
dodgers ceased 10 follow the distracted
nynph except with their eyes-partly re-
specting her spiritual shyness, partly re-
spectfng the jealous supervision OF the
paternal Mott She seldom penetrated the
crowded center OF the growing city: her
rare excursions were confined 10 the old
ranch at Petaluma, whence she brought
flowers and plants. and even extempoTiZed
a hanging gsrien on the quarter deck.
It was still raining and the wind. which
had increased to gale, was dashing the
drorps against the slanting cabin windows
with sound ike spray when Mr.. Abner
Mott sat before table seriously engaged
with his accounts. For it was steamer
nights that mornentous day of reck-
oning before the sailing of the regular
mail steamer was briefly known to COM
mercisl san Froncisco--and Mr.. Mott
was subject at such times TO severely
practical relapses. A swinging light
seemed 10 bring into Greater relief that
peculiar encased casketIs-e security Of the
low timhered. tightly fitting apartment,
with its toylike utilities OF space, and
made the pretty oval face Of Rosey Mott
appear a characteristic ornament. The
sliding door OF the cabin communicated
with the main deck, now rooted in and
partitioned OF 50 as to form a small pass
aga that led 10 the open starboard gang
way, where a narrow, inclosed staircase
built on the ships side took the place of
the ships ladder under her counter, and
opened in the street.
A dash Of rain against the window
caused Rosey 10 lift her eyes from her
book
ats much nicer here than at the ranch,
father" she said coaxingly, "even leaving
alone it's being beautiful ship instead Of
sbanty; the wind don't whistle through
the cracks and blow out the candle when
you're reading, nor the rain spoil your
things hung up against the wall And
you look more like a gentleman sitting in
his own-ship-you know, looking over his
bills and getting ready TO give his or
ders"
Vague and general as Miss Rosey's com
pliment was, it had its full effect upon
her father, who was at times dimly con-
scious Of his hopeless rusticity and its in
congruity with his surroundings. Yes"
he said awkwardly, with a relaxation Of
his aggressive attitude; Eyes, in course
It's more bang up style, but it don't pay
-Rosey-it don't pay. Yer's the Pontiac
that oughter be bringin' in, ez rents go,
at least $500 a month, don't make her
taxes bin thinkiu' seriously of sellin'
her.
As Rosey knew her father had expert
enced this serious contemplation on the
first of every month for the last two years,
and cheerfully ignored it the next day.
she only said, IN sure the vacant rooms
and lofts are all rented, father
THAT'S it, " returned Mr.. Mott thought
fully, plucking at his bushy whiskers with
his fingers and thumb as If he were re
moving dead and sapless membranes in
their growth, that's just what it is
them s ez in it themselves don't pay, and
them ez haz left their goods-the goods
don't pay The Teller ez stored them iron
sugar kettles in the forehold, after trying
to get me to make another advance on
'em, seq he believes he'll have to sacrifice
ell W me dlNtt al, anu OulS DtH5o VI give
him chance Of buying back the half of
'em ten years from now, at double what
advanced him The chap that left them
five hundred cases of hair dye tween
decks and then skipped out to Sacramento,
met me the other day in the street and ad-
vised me to use bottle ez an advertise
ment, or try it on the starn of the Pontiac
for fire proof paint. That foolishness ez
all he's good for. And yet thar might be
suthin' in the paint, if a Teller had niger
luck. There's that New York chap ez
bought up them damaged boxes of plug
terbaker for $50 thousand, and sold em
for foundations for that new building in
Sansome street at thousand clear profit.
It's all luck, Rosey."
The girls eyes had wandered again to
the pages of her book. Perhaps she was
already familiar with the text of her
fathers monologue. But recognizing an
additional qucrulousness in his voice, she
laid the book aside and patiently folded
her hands in her lap.
'Thats right--for I've suthin' to tell
ye. The fact is Sleight wants to buy the
Pontiac out and out just ez she stands
with the two fifty vara lots she stands on"
"Sleight wants to buy her? Sleight2"
echoed Rosey ncredulously.
"You bet! Slcight-the big tinancier,
the smartcst man in Frisco"
"What does he want to buy her for?"
asked Rosey, knitting her pretty brows
The apparently simple question sud-
Mr. 10 fyiupraI
feebly at his daughters face, and frowned
in vacant irritation. CHATS so,' he
said, drawing a long breath; there's
suthin in that"
"What did he say?' continued the
young girl, impatiently.
'Not much, You've got the Pontiac,
Mott SEE he. You betr sez l. 'What'u
you take for her ana the lot she stands
on'' seq he, short and sharp. Some fell
lers, Rosey,' said Mott, with cunning
smile, would hev blurted out big fig
ger and been cotched. That amt my
style. just looked at him. IN wait
fur your figgers until next steamer day
seq he, and off he goes like shot He's
awfully sharp, Rosey."
"But if he is sharp, father, and he
really wants to buy the ship" returned
Rosey, thoughtfully, its only because he
knows it's valuable property and not be-
cause he likes it as we do. He can't take
that value away even if we don't sell it to
him, and all the while we have the COM
fort Of the dear old Pontiac, don't you
seeg'
Confined tomorrow